Taylor Swift set to make ‘strong statement’ on her wedding day

With Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding believed to be just weeks away, what the bride will wear is the question on everyone’s lips.

Taylor has been known to love Oscar De La Renta designs, and is frequently seen in Vivienne Westwood creations, while Elie Saab designed the wedding-worthy gowns the musician wore for the Speak Now section of the Eras tour. But even knowing this, it’s impossible to guess what one of the world’s most famous women will wear to walk down the aisle.

One thing I do feel confident about regarding Taylor’s bridal style is her beauty look. The 36-year-old is rarely seen without her signature red lip (when she is, it causes international news stories such is her dedication to the look), so I can’t see her walking down the aisle without her crimson pout in place.

Taylor Swift’s trademark look

Picture Taylor, and you’ll likely imagine her trademark red lips – and she clearly feels intrinsically linked to the rouge hue, frequently singing about it in her songs (‘Red lip classic, thing that you like’ in Style, ‘Red lips and rosy cheeks’ in Wildest Dreams, ‘So here’s the truth from my red lips’ in End Game and ‘Cherry lips, crystal skies’ in Blank Space, to name just a few), however red lips aren’t a traditionally bridal look, which leads me to wonder whether Taylor will eschew her usual look on her wedding day.

Red lips at weddings

“Red lipstick is a ‘love it or hate it’ bridal choice,” confirms wedding makeup expert Drita Paljevic, who works as Director of Artistry and Makeup at Kevyn Aucoin. “It’s one of those shades you either feel instantly empowered by or completely intimidated by.”

Celebrity makeup artist Naoko Scintu, who paints the faces of A-listers including Kate Hudson and Yerin Ha, agrees on the divisiveness of red wedding lips. “Red lipstick for a bride can be quite tricky, in the first instance, because you’re wearing white and you don’t want any of the lipstick getting on your beautiful dress.”

She continues: “There’s also a trend for brides wanting to look more natural and look like themselves on their wedding day. A red lip is a strong statement, which people tend to avoid on their wedding day.”

Stay consistent with wedding makeup

That said, in wedding makeup trials, brides are told on repeat not to change up their look too much, as beauty editor Amanda May, who got married in 2024, says: “When I was having my wedding beauty trials done, a lot of the advice was to look like yourself with a tweak; don’t go too far with a new look, because you want to feel your most confident self.”

This is a sentiment makeup professional Lisa Eldridge echoes. “Sometimes brides make a departure from their usual look on their wedding day because they want to achieve something extra special and dramatic, but it’s worth remembering that your fiancé fell in love with you for who you are, so you don’t have to change a thing!”

Taylor Swift’s changing styles

While Taylor’s red lipstick is intrinsically tied to her identity, over the last few years, she has dabbled in other shades. Namely NARS’ Lipstick in ‘Morocco’, £21, which is described by the brand as a warm cinnamon or terracotta. Taylor wore it in the Fate of Ophelia music video, as well as to the 2024 VMAs.

This could be a move that works for Taylor, to wear a subtle take on her everyday look, as wedding expert Zoe Burke of wedding planning website Bridebook says: “On your wedding day, you want to look like yourself, but different. It helps it to feel like more of an occasion – it’s why glasses-wearers might switch to contacts for the day, or someone who always wears their hair down will opt for an updo.

“You will still look like yourself, but with enough of a difference that it surprises people and feels special.”

How to wear red lipstick for your wedding

Taylor, who wears a red lip on a daily basis, doesn’t need any advice for rocking the look on her big day, but if you want to emulate the superstar’s trademark lipstick on your wedding, here’s expert advice from the pros – including the shades they keep in their kits.

1. Get used to red

“I always tell my brides: a red lip has to grow on you,” says Drita. “If you’re someone who never wears red, you can’t expect to fall in love with it the morning of your wedding. You need to wear it, live in it, and get used to seeing yourself in it before deciding it’s your bridal moment.”

2. Choose the right red

“Everyone can look and feel amazing in red lipstick – it’s all about choosing the hue that suits you, that you will really want to reach for whenever you need a confidence boost,” says Lisa, who adds: “Not to mention that the right shade for you will add to the feel-good factor by lighting up your face and brightening your smile.”

Her top pick is the Lisa Eldridge Velvet Ribbon True Velvet Lip Colour, £29. “I see lots of my customers pick this shade for their wedding day red lip. It’s a classic pillar-box red and looks incredible on all skin tones. I think it’s the red everyone needs!”

3. Find your red formula

“Pay attention to formulas,” implores Lisa. “When it comes to wedding makeup, long-lasting formulas are key; look for long-lasting lipstick and kiss-proof lip pencils. I always advise people not to feel limited by trends or trending formulas and finishes… the lipstick you wear every day should feel effortless for you and feel confident and comfortable on your special day. Trends are fun, but you should cherry-pick what you want from them and make them work for you. They come and go at such a rapid rate!”

Naoko agrees on the importance of formula, recommending liquid lipstick for your wedding day. “A liquid lipstick, such as D&G’s Everkiss Liquid Lip Devotion, £38, won’t bleed. Once it sets, it’s not moving. So, you’re not going to have any issues with it brushing on your wedding dress or guests. Plus, the shade is the perfect red; it suits every skin tone.”

Drita loves Kevyn Aucoin’s Velvet Lip Paint in Stunning, £33. “It brightens you up, makes teeth look whiter, and stays elegant from ceremony to reception.

“It has a matte texture without feeling dry, plus it doesn’t feather or run, and it’s transfer-proof. You will forget that you are even wearing lipstick.”

4. Make your lips your focal point

To keep things fresh and chic, Lisa recommends making your lips the focal point of your look. “Keep the rest pared back and minimal. Team your perfect red lip with clean, fresh-looking skin and subtly sculpted eyes with beautifully defined lashes.”

Drita agrees, adding: “The key is creating balance between eyes and lips. When you do red lipstick, you should go very light on the eyes, so the lip feels like a natural extension of her beauty rather than something overpowering.”